As LeBron James sat in the upper balcony of the practice facility at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he took a moment to enjoy the view. Team USA was holding its training camp here ahead of the Summer Olympics, and James was ready to switch between his roles as an Olympian and a Laker.
After a while, he walked down the stairs and someone handed him a phone with Bronny James' first summer league bucket cued up. He became a dad in that instant, grinning widely as he pressed play. "Come on, man, that's tough. That's tough," he said with obvious pride. "Get loose."
James had his mind in several places at once on that Saturday. He had just wrapped up his first practice with Team USA, a squad often referred to as basketball's version of "The Avengers," featuring stars like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, and other NBA titans. But while he was in Las Vegas, his thoughts were also in San Francisco, where his son, Bronny, was making his pro debut for the Lakers in a game against the Sacramento Kings at the California Classic.
As a proud father, James shared his thoughts on Bronny's performance, emphasizing that people shouldn't read too much into how he plays this summer regarding his long-term value. "Summer basketball is about adjusting," he said. "I just hope for [him to get] his feet wet in the NBA — the pace of the game, the speed of the game, the physicality of the game. But what he does in the California Classic and Summer League, it doesn't matter if he plays well and it doesn't matter if he doesn't play well. I just want him to continue to grow. Practices, film sessions, his individual workouts. You can't take anything stat-wise from the California Classic and Summer League and bring it once the season starts. The only thing that matters is him getting better and stacking days."
LeBron couldn't hide his emotions when talking about the Lakers drafting his son with the No. 55 pick, calling it a "dream come true." "To see my son, to be able to be in the NBA alone, it's always been a dream of his," he said. "And for us to be there side by side, a lot of words are lost, to be honest. I don't know. The kid has worked so hard to get back to this point. So much has happened over the last year with him, to have this happen less than a year from his [cardiac arrest] incident, to be with our friends and family when they announced his name, it was something that was super surreal."
James also reflected on the Lakers' other significant moves this summer, expressing positivity about the hiring of JJ Redick as the new head coach and drafting Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 pick. "Dalton, besides Bronny, was my favorite player in college basketball," James revealed.
Despite the Lakers not making any other notable moves, James didn't criticize the organization for its lack of action. "For me personally, my only mindset is to come back and be ready to go to work every single day, no matter who's there," he said. "That's just me. I've always been that. … When it gets to that point, my jersey goes on, my shorts go on the same way, and my work, it never changes. So I look forward to that when it happens."
Exciting Highlights:
- Team USA's "Avengers": Featuring Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, and other NBA stars.
- Bronny James' Debut: Making his first summer league bucket and being drafted by the Lakers.
- Family Milestones: Less than a year after Bronny's cardiac arrest, being drafted and playing alongside his dad.
- Lakers' New Moves: Hiring JJ Redick as head coach and drafting Dalton Knecht.
James' journey as a father, a Laker, and an Olympian is filled with pride, dreams, and unwavering dedication. Balancing his roles with grace, he continues to inspire, whether he's cheering for Bronny, training with Team USA, or gearing up for another season with the Lakers.
Login